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Women wanting a workout get 2 new places to sweat

By Times staff
Published February 23, 2007

WOMEN'S GYM: Fit for Her, 16631 Florida Ave. N in Lutz, has opened and is available for member use 24 hours a day.

"Members can get in any time," owner Kristi Kent said. Video monitors keep a watch on the business, and an electronic key fob is required at all times to enter the building.

Kent said her inspiration came from personal experience: A single mother, she wanted to lose weight but had trouble finding the time to work out. At 5-foot-2, she also prefers equipment that is the appropriate size for women.

Clients include police officers who work odd hours, and mothers who want to get their exercising in at 6 a.m.

Cardio machines come with flat screen televisions and earphones. The weight equipment has detailed instructions, even on breathing, and there is a library of exercise videos. Massage chairs and tanning beds are also available for use.

Kent plans to add fitness classes once she has a better idea of what her clientele wants, she said, and there is a female and male personal trainer. Members pay monthly fees of $45 to $55.

Office hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Call 813 265-4800.

WOMEN'S GYM, CITRUS PARK: Farther west, entrepreneur Jean Overstreet has opened a Butterfly Life gym at Gunn Highway and Sheldon Road, behind the Washington Mutual Bank and across the street from Sickles High School.

Butterfly Life is a franchise operation, founded in California.

The gym offers group instruction and motivational DVDs that cover a wide range of topics including nutrition, fashion and beauty.

An open house is scheduled this Saturday at 10:30 a.m.-noon. Guests can take an introductory kick and jab class or sample the 30-minute "Butterfly Life" circuit, a full-body workout that uses plate-loaded machines.

Refreshments will be served, made with recipes from the weight loss program.

The gym is at 7926 Gunn Highway. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit www.butterflylife.com or call (813) 792-5433.

Monthly fees are $34 to $49, and the gym is offering an introductory special in which the $99 enrollment fee is waived.

Send information on businesses that are opening, closing or moving to ntampa@sptimes.com.

[Last modified February 22, 2007, 08:22:11]